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America's Task 

An Address 

Benjamin J. Rosenthal 
Chicago 

Author of 

"The Need of the Hour"; 

An American Merchant Marine. 




This pamphlet is distributed by the National Business League of 
America. Copies may be had by addressing Austin A. Bumham, 
General Secretary, 1402 North American Building, Chicago, III 



m 






^Ai vp America's Task 

Before the war the exports of our country were a little 
over two billions of dollars, and at that time the total 
exports of the world were estimated at twenty billions of 
dollars, so that our share then was a trifle over ten per 
cent of the total. During the present fiscal year our ex- 
ports have jumped to about $6,000,000,000, and in all prob- 
ability the total world's exports have declined since the 
war. The figures are not available, so it is safe to assume 
that we are now furnishing over thirty per cent of the 
world's exports. To do this vast business we have been op- 
erating on peak load for some time, working night and day, 
and we have also called out of the public schools many 
thousands of children under employment age who ought to 
be left in school until they become mentally and physi- 
cally equipped for industrial service. Chicago contributed 
over 25,000 of these children last year. 

Now what is about to happen? A million of the flower 
of the country, young men between the ages of 21 and 30, 
inclusive, will shortly be called into service, and many 
more may be drafted as this war proceeds. On top of that, 
from five to ten billions more monej^ will be expended in 
this country this year than last by this nation in war 
preparations, and much will be spent by the allies, to whom 
we expect to loan large suras of money. 

Now comes our test. Are we going to be equal to it? 
And how do we propose to meet this new situation ? These 
are the questions that we alone must answer. Will we meet 
it by permitting uncertainty and fear to creep in, by draw- 
ing in our lines, by curtailing production, by enforcing 
the policy of false economy? This is exactly what we have 
been doing in this country since our declaration of war. 
Where, I ask. is our business acumen, our boasted cour- 
age, our farsightedness ? Do we intend to inform the world 
that is appealing to us for food and clothing and the neces- 
saries of life, that we are unwilling to assume this respon- 
sibility, or that we are unequal to this task? 

T do not mean to belittle in the least those brave men who 
offer their lives in defense of their country, or those con- 
scripts, who, when their names are called, step forward 
courageously to take their places in the ranks in this battle 
for the rights of humanity — but this war will develop other 
heroes, industrial heroes, such men as now comprise our 
National Council of Defense and their many associates who 
are neglecting important and profitable business interests 
to serve their country without pay, and other heroes, who, 
by their self-sacrifice and self-denial will place themselves 
in the class of patriots that will stand out on an equality 
with those who do the fighting. 



Elxports of 
the World 



War 
Preparation* 



Our Test 



Indnstrial 
Heroes 



AVar of 

Keononilc 

Forces 



Self 
Denial 



Our Duty 



I am satisfied the American people will not fail in this 
crisis. They realize that the eyes of the world are upon 
them, they understand that the hearts of the world appeal 
to them. They realize that this is not a war of numbers, 
if it were, the allied powers, including this nation, could 
easily exchange two men for every one of the central pow- 
ers and still have men to spare. They realize it is not a 
war of battleships, because those who are fighting on our 
side outnumber our opponents three to one in number of 
battleships. It is a war of moral, financial, and econmnic 
forces. The moral issue we can safely leave to God, Who is 
with us in this fight for the liberty of humanity. Finan- 
cially, we could exchange a five dollar bill for every dollar 
bill of our opponents, and still have a large reserve. The 
great force that will win or lose this war is the economic 
one, and the war will be of long or short duration in pro- 
portion as this nation is able to supply its soldiers and those 
of its allies promptly Avith efficient weapons of warfare, 
with good wholesome food, with proper clothing, shelter, 
and all the other appurtenances of an effieient fighting 
force. We must profit by the experience of those who have 
been engaged in battle during the past three years, and use 
that experience to the best advantage of this country, for 
their trials have taught the lesson of full preparedness and 
of efficiency. 

To accomplish all this may entail many sacrifices, much 
self-denial and hard work, so T ask the American people. 
Are you ready for the test? If your answer is, Yes, then 
we have M'on this fight for humanity. It may mean that 
some of us may have to go barefoot that the soldiers may 
be shod, some supperless to bed that the soldiers may be 
fed. No one can tell at this time how sorely we may be 
tried, but first, last, and all, the time there can be but one 
thought uppermost in our minds — no matter what priva- 
tion we must suffer, no matter what self-denial we must 
practice, the soldiers who are in the field of battle, risking 
their lives for us, must be denied nothing that we can give 
them. 

Now, if we are ready, our first duty is to subscribe for 
the Liberty Bond loan and any subsequent loans, if it be 
necessary to make them. We must loan our money freely 
to the government. The ten million young men who reg- 
istered on the 5th day of June must stand ready to fill up 
the gaps of those of our brave fellowmen who may fall in 
battle, and they must be ready to answer the call as fast 
as more men are required at the front, and we who stay at 
home must be prepared to fill up those places left vacant 
in the industrial ranks. We must take the men and women 
first from the places where they can be best spared, be- 
cause our slogan must be, "No diminution in production." 
Every man or woman, rich or poor, must be i-ead}^ and 



anxious to take his or her burden and carry it through this 
struggle. There can be no exceptions to this rule. Slackers 
are better off dead than alive, because the finger of contempt 
will be forever pointed at the man or woman who fails his 
country in this crisis, and besides, the nation cannot afford 
to support any man who is unwilling to do his bit toward 
the production of this country. 

The children who are in school must not be permitted to 
leave school until they have arrived at a proper age, for 
posterity must not be robbed of its rightful heritage, young 
men and women, physically and mentally able to take up 
the struggle for life, when the time arrives for them to 
take their places in the industrial world. We must burn 
the fires of industry to the high sky. We must sow every 
acre of available land, we must make up stocks of every- 
thing that will be needed. We must not wait for the de- 
mand, we must make up reserve stocks, for everything that 
was required before Ave declared war will be needed soon 
and in much greater quantity than before. 

We must make a complete survey of the nation at once, 
and a place must be marked on the chart where can be 
employed every man or woman, young or old, strong or 
})hysically handicapped, as fast as such person is needed. 
We must conserve every scrap of material, every ounce of 
food and every bit of human energy. Our charities will 
not be able to raise enough money to take care of the usual 
demands, because there will be heavy calls upon us from 
other sources which are now equally as important. We 
must therefore put some of those thousands of physically 
handicapped men and women who are willing and able 
to work, where they may be useful. Many of these unfor- 
tunates are now supported by the charities, but have always 
been willing and anxious to work. They want to preserve 
their self-respect. They have never been given the right 
opportunity, so we must find out what work is best suited 
for these handicapped people, for every hour's work will 
add that much to the country's production and make their 
burden and ours so much lighter. This experience, which 
will be a very valuable one, will enable us to put those of 
our fellowraen who are wounded or crippled, in employ- 
ment after the war. and in that way we will again conserve 
mankind and give to those brave soldiers who have been 
unfortunate an opportunity to retain their places in the 
industrial ranks. 

There was a fallacy in this country up to quite recently 
that men past 45 years of age, although physically and 
mentally able to work, were unfit for work, and hence they 
were consigned to the scrap heap. That was exploded in 
the city of Chicago and in other cities, and thousands of 
men who formerly walked the streets in the vain search 
for work, willing and anxious to work, are now employed, 



Save the 
Children 



Survey 



Conserva- 
tion of Man 
Power 



Shipping 
BUI 



Amerlra'a 
Kiitiire 



What 

Aeeoniplltih- 
ment Mean« 



SO that no one, young or old, is exempt from service, when- 
ever it shall be required. 

About a year ago the Congress passed a bill known as 
the Shipping Bill. This bill created a shipping board with 
broad powers, and empowered the government to issue 
bonds for $50,000,000 for the purchase or leasing of ships. 
This board is now working in conjunction with ex-Gov. 
Goethals of Panama, and in all probability three-quarters 
of a billion dollars will be expended under the direction 
of this board within the next two years for ships and the 
probability is that within the next year we will have a fleet 
of merchant ships of about five million tons, as great as 
Germany's before the war, so that while the war is on, 
these ships will be used to carry the products of this coun- 
try to our allies and to the neutral nations, and immediately 
after the war is over this great oversea fleet will be used 
by this nation to build up its foreign business in every quar- 
ter of the globe. New trade routes will be opened, and 
trade will surely follow the flag. The rates for transporta- 
tion will undoubtedly be as low as those made by any other 
nation, and there will be no discrimination in future against 
the American shipper, but on the other hand, he will be 
favored, for these ships hereafter, that carry the products 
of our mines, factories and farms to all parts of the world, 
will be owiied by American citizens, manned by American 
seamen, and will sail under the stars and stripes. 

We are now keyed up to our greatest efficiency. We are 
now a world nation. We shall always need a world's trade. 
We are the richest nation in the world. We have the great- 
est natural resources, and we are undoubtedly the most 
resourceful nation, mechanically. AVe have more to sell 
than any other nation, and the world will always need what 
we produce. It is only a question of price and transporta- 
tion, and we shall be able to meet both of those conditions 
in a satisfactory manner. So why even think for a moment 
that the end of the war will disturb our business? It will 
unquestionably be greater than ever, if ^'-e are prepared to 
take care of it. 

All of these matters T have outlined to you are easy of 
accomplishment if we are all willing to do our share and 
are all ready to make any sacrifice that is required. When 
we shall have completed all this — and we shall not be sat- 
isfied with anything less — then shall we have won the fight 
for the liberty of humanity, for the fatherhood of God and 
the brotherhood of man, and in the words of Christ Jesus, 
shall be established peace on earth, good will toward men. 



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